Buena Vista Street is California Adventure’s little art deco wonderland. While Main Street USA brings charm and nostalgia, California Adventure’s front street is all about style and glamour. From the cobblestones to the highest railings, every inch of Buena Vista real estate looks fit for Hollywood royalty. If you’ve ever walked down the block, you’ve […] Read more…
Waiting in line is the part of a Disneyland vacation no one looks forward to. Even with fast passes, single rider options, and lighter crowds, you will always have to stand in line at some point. But some attractions definitely step up to make the experience a little more enjoyable (check out my favorite queues […] Read more…
Pixar Pier has been anchoring the southern side of California Adventure for about a year and a half now, but it still feels new and a little unfamiliar. I still find myself exploring the boardwalk, finding new details and appreciating the brighter color scheme. Paradise Pier was a softer color scheme, playing second fiddle to […] Read more…
♫ This is Halloween! ♫ Yes, that song has been stuck in my head all day. Although since Disneyland starts Halloween celebrations in September, it kind of feels like it’s already over! This year the parks brought their A game with decor, and I found tons of new details that I had never seen before. […] Read more…
California Adventure draws a lot of attention at night. With neon lights, massive thrill rides, and the always stunning World of Color, crowds flock to the bright excitement of the park. But other lands don’t have that same energy in the evening, and for me, that’s a good thing. If I want to just roam […] Read more…
Anyone who’s ever had a blog will tell you: you need a LOT of photos. As a result, I’ve easily taken thousands of photos of the happiest place on earth. After a while, you realize you’ve been snapping the same angles over and over again. It’s easy to fall into familiar patterns. So on my […] Read more…
At first glance, Paradise Gardens Park might seem like a land without an identity. It’s the only land in California Adventure without any clear marker indicating its beginning or end, and its hosting of festivals means the décor and layout often change with the season. But when you take some time to really explore the […] Read more…
When the sun goes down in California Adventure, Cars Land shows its full personality. The buildings shine in neon lights, the mountains glow in brilliant red, and the street buzzes with newfound energy. Every night, Cars Land transforms from a sleepy little town into a bustling neighborhood block party. I love to walk down the […] Read more…
Something unusual happens when the sun goes down in California Adventure. Crowds seem to float toward the neon glow in Cars Land and Pixar Pier, and the other lands start to get a little quiet. No land experiences this quite like Pacific Wharf. That’s not to say the land empties; rather, its walkways are dark […] Read more…
Pixar Pier has only been in California Adventure for about a year, so for most park visitors, there’s still so much detail to discover. Each “neighborhood” in this land has its own little personality, and with each comes slightly different stylized architecture, decorations, and little gems to find. Visitors to the boardwalk shrink to the […] Read more…
When the sun sets in Disneyland, Fantasyland changes. The bright colors and gold detailing on many of the buildings hide in the shadows, and instead, the attractions themselves shine in soft lighting. In the central courtyard, the castle and carousel shine brightest, leaving the rest of the area in shadow. And on the east side, the […] Read more…
Paradise Gardens Park hides in a corner spot in California Adventure. The louder, more chaotic Pixar Pier looms across the water, and the sweeping landscapes of Grizzly Peak cover its opposite side. But between those two larger-than-life lands, Paradise Gardens Park still manages to carve out its own little personality. This seaside haven in the […] Read more…
Something magical happens in Adventureland after the sun goes down. The jungle just seems taller and denser, glowing lanterns light the pathway, and suddenly, the animals hidden in the brush just sound louder and closer. At night, you really feel like you’re wandering deep in a mysterious jungle and exploring the unknown. If you’re paying […] Read more…
Walt Disney designed Disneyland as a magical home for all of his stories, and of course, the characters from those stories. Peter Pan, Alice, Snow White, Mickey, and many others roamed the various lands from day one, and the list of residents in the park grows with every new Disney film. Walt wasn’t often photographed […] Read more…